Anchoring Device and Method for Securing Anchoring Ropes for Sun Shade Canopies in various terrains

ABSTRACT

An anchoring device and method for collapsible sun shelter so that the sun shelter can be used on a variety of terrains, the reusable anchoring device consists of a large corkscrew or other anchoring type post, that can be turned or driven into the ground, the anchoring device top being configured so that it can securely hold a rope, the anchoring device holds a mostly flat geometric shape greater than 36 square inches, the mostly geometric shape having a sewn compartment, or casing, to enclose a rope around the outside edge, with one corner of the mostly flat geometric shape casing open so that the rope can attach to a pole holding up the sun shape, and the opposite corner&#39;s reinforced casing open to allow the rope to be pulled out to attach to an anchoring post with an anchoring post stake, a separate anchoring device may be used for each post when setting up the sunshade.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to an anchoring devices and method to allow a collapsible sunshade to be used on a variety of terrains.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Many localities have events, such as sporting events, and outdoor activities where people may desire to be protected from the sun, especially where ready sources of shade are not available. People on beaches, where no shade is available often use temporary shade structures or sunshade to provide relief from direct exposure to sunlight. These sun cover structures frequently use holding devices full of sand to anchor the poles. Sand is available at the beaches and can be easily used as a weight source for bags that can then act as an anchor. For other applications, sand is not always available and there is a need to anchor the shade structures in new and novel ways.

Conventional sunshades are similar in some respects to expandable canopies or tent structures. Tent structures have the advantage of being able to provide a protected space for privacy but thereby have restricted visibility to the outside. Further, tent structures are often difficult to erect and cumbersome to transport. Canopy structures such as folding umbrellas are alternately used for temporary sun shading purposes. However, such structures are also difficult to transport and stow and are generally not considered to be a practical alternative for quick and efficient travel.

Ease of deployment is of crucial importance to sunshade structures. While simple structures such as tarps or naturally occurring elements such as palm fronds are easy to erect, they lack the ability to resist the elements such as wind and/or degrade quickly under extreme exposure to sunlight.

Sunshades for beaches rely on flat geometric shapes that can be filled with sand. This invention uses the piece with three holes that are used to tighten the mostly flat geometric shape when it is filled with sand and then tightens the mostly flat geometric shape by putting the rope loop over the anchoring post and the other end attached to that piece with three holds, that is moved away from the mostly flat geometric shape to tighten into a shape that will hold sand.

In non-beach applications, since sand is not available to add to an anchoring system, another method of anchoring must be utilized. In the anchoring device of this application, the mostly flat geometric shape is utilized to hold the rope that comes from the sunshade pole, encasing the rope in casings in the flat geometric shape as the rope proceeds to the anchoring post, which includes an anchoring stake. The flat geometric shape doesn't have a function when not used to hold sand, but stays on the anchoring device as a a casing for the rope.

The objectives of this invention are to:

-   -   1. Have features so that sunshade can be erected stably on         uneven terrain by adding more places and more distance from the         sunshade where an anchoring mechanism can be placed;     -   2. Have a handy holding apparatus to allow sand to be added to a         geometric shape holding device to provide anchoring weight, or         alternatively having the geometric shape be a simple conduit for         rope going from the sunshade to the anchoring post.

PRIOR ART PATENTS

U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,918A,

, uses a screw type device for anchoring a beach umbrella. The abstract reads, “An anchoring device for anchoring a post into a ground surface made of granular material. The anchoring device is particularly well adapted to anchor a beach umbrella into the sand. The anchoring device has a sleeve section and an integrally extending insertion section. The sleeve section defines a post receiving channel adapted to receive the post. The insertion section has a conically tapering configuration. A pair of parallel insertion threads extends integrally from the outer surface of the insertion section and a portion of the sleeve section.”

This patent is a screw device to set an umbrella into, rather than just forcing the umbrella stand into the ground. It does not utilize a mostly flat geometric shape, or ropes that provide support to poles holding up a sunshade.

It is important to note for this patent application utilizes a screw type or other anchoring device. Screw type anchoring devices are common. What separates the anchoring device of this application from other uses is that it is utilizing a shape that is filled with sand on a beach to anchor a sunshade, modifying that shape and then incorporating an anchoring device so that it can be used in a variety of terrains. What the invention is doing is taking a standard configuration for a sand container, which is a mostly flat geometric shape with a casing and one reinforced casing edge that sends the rope to a piece that allows the rope to be adjusted for tautness after which the rope goes to a pole for support, and converting that piece to having a reinforce casing with an opening on the opposing corner to the original reinforced corner, the opening allowing the rope to be pulled out so that it can go around an anchoring screw or device, with the top of the anchoring screw or device extending outward and downward on the outside edges to hold the rope in place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method and device for converting a mostly flat geometric shape into a holding device for sand or other weight through the use of a rope inside a casing that can be drawn tight when sand is placed on top of the mostly flat geometric shape. When sand is not used, but the terrain is uneven, a rope in a casing on the outside of the mostly flat geometric shape connects eventually to the pole it is supporting, with the capability of changing the length of the rope, is pulled out and laced under the top of anchoring post, with the top of the anchoring post configured to hold the rope in place under the top of the anchoring post.

The specific steps of the method are comprised of the following.

-   -   1. Starting with a geometric piece of material     -   2. Adding a casing around the edges of the edge of the material         with two openings on opposite ends of the material     -   3. Reinforcing the casing where the two openings are.     -   4. Adding attachment points on the other two corners for holding         string that can help enclosed the geometric shape when it is         used to hold sand.     -   5. Adding to the anchoring device an anchoring post, with a top         that extends beyond the anchoring post stake that goes into the         ground, the anchoring post top extending outward, with and         outside edge that extends downwards, so that when the rope is         placed over the top of the anchoring post first, and then under         the top of the anchoring post, and then pulled tight, the rope         rests under the top of the anchoring post, the rope is held         firmly in place.     -   6. Threading the rope from the sun shade first through two of         the holes in a piece with three holes, then threading the rope         through one half of the casing around the geometric shape, on         the opposite corner from the piece with three holes is an         opening where the rope is looped to go over and then under the         anchoring post top, and then the rope goes through the other         half of the casing around the geometric shape and finally pulled         through the third hole on the piece with three holes and a knot         is tied holding the rope in place, the knot being on the other         side of the piece with three holes than the mostly falt         geometric shape.     -   7. In installations where weight is desired near the anchoring         point, the mostly flat geometric shape can be gathered together         by tightening the rope from the sunshade post by moving the         piece with three holes towards the sunshade, and also pulling         and then tying the strings that are attached to the two corners         that do not have a reinforced casing, creating a secure holding         configuration for the sand.

DRAWINGS

Explanation of Numbers on Drawings

-   -   1. Mostly flat geometric shape     -   2. Casing around the edge of the geometric shape to hold rope.     -   3. Reinforced corner with casing to hold rope where rope comes         out to install on anchoring post.     -   4. Rope loop pulled out so that it can be installed on anchoring         device.     -   5. Strings that pull the opposite corners of the mostly flat         geometric upward when the mostly flat geometric shape is filled         with sand, and also hold the mostly flat geometric shape         together when used without weight added.     -   6. Sand.     -   7. Reinforced corner with casing that is positioned where the         rope goes to piece with three holes and then on to the sunshade         pole, on the opposite corner from the opening for the rope loop.     -   8. Rope that goes from the sunshade, goes through two of the         holes in a piece with three holes, then goes through one half of         the casing around the geometric shape, on the opposite corner         from the piece with three holes is an opening where the rope is         looped to go over the anchoring post top, and then the rope is         pulled through the other half of the casing around the geometric         shape and finally pulled through the third hole on the piece         with three holes and a knot is tied on the opposite side of the         piece with three holes from the geometric shape holding the rope         in place.     -   9. Piece with three holes so that tautness of the rope to the         pole can be adjusted and to hold the end of the rope that is         away from the sunshade.     -   10. Anchoring post.     -   11. Attachment post top which allows rope to be placed under the         anchoring post top to hold it in place.     -   12. Corner pieces without reinforced casing that have a holding         device for the strings.     -   13. The rope portion that is going to the post of the sunshade.     -   14. The entire anchoring device.     -   15. Knot at the end of the rope away from the sunshade.     -   16. Attachment point for strings     -   17. Anchoring post stake section

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the rope from the reinforced casing with an opening being placed over the top of the anchoring screw or device with the anchoring post turned to show how the rope is held in place.

FIG. 2 shows the rope that emerges from the opening from the reinforced corner casing being placed over the top of the anchoring post.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the anchoring method from the anchoring post to the point where the rope leaves the piece with three holes that adjusts tautness to the pole. This figure shows the parts lying on the ground, while when in use the pieces would be at an angle up to a pole.

FIG. 4 shows how the rope can be pulled out of the reinforced casing into a rope loop so that it may be installed over the top of the anchoring post.

FIG. 5 shows the mostly flat geometric shape when stretched out on the ground with the strings that lift the corners when the mostly flat geometric shape is filled with sand or wrapped around the mostly flat geometric shape when used in non-sand terrains.

FIG. 6 shows how the rope is attached to a piece with three holes that adjusts the tautness of the rope going to the anchoring device and attaching to the sunshade pole.

FIG. 7 shows the mostly flat geometric piece when sand is placed on it for an anchoring weight and then is tightened up to hold the sand in place. This figure shows the flat geometric piece prior to adding the second reinforced corner which leads to the piece with three holes.

FIG. 8 shows how the string is attached to the mostly flat geometric shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows the rope 4 from the reinforced corner with casing 3 with a rope loop 4 being placed over the top of the anchoring post 11 with the rope loop 4 being held in place by the configuration of the anchoring post 10 with the anchoring post top 11 extending outward from the anchoring device 10 so that when the rope loop 4 is placed under the anchoring device top 11, the rope loop 4 is held in place. The figure also shows the anchoring post stake 17, which is the part that goes into the ground.

FIG. 2 shows the mostly flat geometric shape 1, with the rope loop 4 from the corner with reinforced casing 3 with a rope loop 4 placed over the top of the anchoring post 10.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the anchoring method from the anchoring device 10 to the point where the rope 8 leaves the piece 9 with three holes that adjusts tautness of the rope 8 to the sunshade pole. This figure shows the parts lying on the ground, while when in use the pieces would be at an angle up to a pole. This figure shows most of the elements of the 14 anchoring device including: 1 mostly flat geometric shape, 2 casing around the edge of the geometric shape to hold rope, 3 reinforced corner with casing to hold rope where rope comes out to install on anchoring post, 4 rope loop pulled out so that it can be installed on the anchoring post, 5 strings that pull the opposite corners of the mostly flat geometric upward when the mostly flat geometric shape is filled with sand, and also hold the mostly flat geometric shape together when used with an anchoring device, 7 reinforced corner with casing that is positioned where the rope goes to piece with three holes and then on to the sunshade pole, 8 rope that goes throughout the anchoring device, 9 a piece with three holes so that rope's tautness to the pole can be adjusted, 10 an anchoring post, 11 the anchoring post top which allows rope to be placed under the top to hold it in place, 12 corner pieces without reinforced casing which are at the corners where the rope cannot be pulled out that have a holding device for the strings, 13 the rope section that is going to the post of the sunshade, and 15 the know that is tied after the rope from the sunshade 8 exits the mostly flat geometric shape and then goes through the 9 piece with three holes.

FIG. 4 shows the geometric shape 1, the casing around the geometric shape 2, reinforced corner casing 3 and the rope loop 4 before it is pulled over the anchoring post.

FIG. 5 shows the mostly flat geometric shape 1 when stretched out on the ground with the strings 5 attached 1 to the geometric shape at points on the corners 12 that do not have the openings that lift the corners when filled with sand or wrapped around the mostly flat geometric shape when used in non-sand terrains.

FIG. 6 shows how the rope 8, coming from a reinforced corner casing 7 is attached to the piece with three holes 9, going through two of the holes, that adjusts the tautness of the rope going to and attaching to the sunshade pole. The tautness is achieved by either moving the piece with three holes 9 towards the sunshade, which in effect shortens the rope, or moving the piece with three holes 9 towards the mostly flat geometric shape 1 which in effect lengthens the rope. This figure also shows how the end of the rope 15 away from the sunshade is pulled through the piece with three holes and knotted, and shows the section of the rope 13 going to the sunshade post.

FIG. 7 shows the mostly flat geometric piece 1 when sand 6 is placed on it for an anchoring weight and the strings 5 to hold the sand in place. FIG. 7 also shows rope 8 and the reinforced corner casing 3 and the rope loop 4 at the furthermost point from the sunshade, and the reinforced corner casing 7 that leads to the piece with three holes.

FIG. 8 shows how the string 5 is attached to the mostly flat geometric shape 1 through attachment points 16 that are on the corners without the reinforced casing, the figure also shows the casing 2 that is not reinforced that goes around the flat geometric shape 1. 

I claim:
 1. An anchoring device to be used with posts on a sunshade comprising: a mostly flat geometric shape; rope from the sunshade post; a piece with three holes; a casing around the edge of the geometric shape to hold the rope inside the casing; openings in corners on opposite ends of the mostly flat geometric shape; reinforced corner casings on the corners that have openings; an anchoring post; an anchoring post top that extends outward form the main body of the post; a stake on the anchoring post section that goes into the ground; a piece with three holes; strings; attachment points for strings on the corners without openings; whereby the rope that goes from the sunshade, goes through two of the holes in a piece with three holes, then goes through one half of the casing around the geometric shape, on the opposite corner from the piece with three holes is an opening where the rope is looped outward to go over the anchoring post top, and then the rope goes through the other half of the casing around the geometric shape and finally pulled through the third hole on the piece with three holes and a knot is tied on the opposite side of the piece with three holes from the geometric shape, holding the rope in place, when used with sand for anchors, sand is placed on the mostly flat geometric shape, the piece with three holes is moved towards the sunshade to tighten the rope, creating a holding space for the sand
 2. The device of claim 1 with strings, attachment points for the strings on corners whereby the string can be used to further secure the holding space for the sand.
 3. A method of anchoring sunshades in sand or in areas with uneven terrain, the steps of the method comprising: starting with a geometric piece of material; including rope for a sunshade; adding a casing around the edges of the edge of the material with two openings on opposite ends of the material; reinforcing the casing where the two openings are; adding to the anchoring device an anchoring post, with a anchoring post top that extends beyond the anchoring post stake that goes into the ground, the top extending outward, with and outside edge that extends downwards, so that when the rope is placed over then top first, and then under the top of the anchoring device, and then pulled tight so that the rope rests under the top, the rope is held firmly in place; adding a piece with three holes; threading the rope from the sun shade first through two of the holes in a piece with three holes, then threading the rope through one half of the casing around the geometric shape, on the opposite corner from the piece with three holes is an opening where the rope is looped to go over and then under the anchoring post top, and then the rope is pulled through the other half of the casing around the geometric shape and finally pulled through the third hole on the piece with three holes and a knot is tied holding the rope in place so that the know is the closest point of the anchoring device to the sunshade post; in installations where weight is desired near the anchoring point, the mostly flat geometric shape can be gathered together into a holding area for sand by tightening the rope from the sunshade post by moving the piece with three holes towards the sunshade. and also pulling tight and tying the strings that are attached to the two corners that do not have a reinforced casing.
 4. The method of claim 2 that also adds attachment points on the other two corners for holding string; and in cases where sand is added as an anchoring weight, pulling tight and tying the strings that are attached to the two corners that do not have a reinforced casing to further secure the holding area for sand. 